FORD is celebrating a sales bonanza thanks to the popularity of stablemates the C-MAX and larger Grand C-MAX.

The compact MPV models have surpassed sales expectations, recording more than 100,000 sales and orders since their launch late last year.

This year through to May, UK sales of the duo stand at 8,132 - more than double the sales over the same period a year ago.

To meet demand for the five-seat C-MAX and seven-seat Grand C-MAX, Ford has increased the line speed at its plant in Valencia, Spain. The result has been an almost 18 per cent increase in daily production.

"We expected a strong customer demand for the Ford C-MAX and Ford Grand C-MAX, but demand has exceeded our expectations," said Ford of Europe vice president Roelant de Waard.

"Sales of the C-MAX will contribute to our expectation that around 40 per cent of all the new vehicles we sell in Europe this year will be totally new or significantly freshened models."

Over, 65 percent of Ford C-MAX sales have been high-series trim levels, such as the Titanium models, compared to 32 per cent over the same period a year ago.

Ford says that of the 8,132 UK sales through to May, the most popular powertrain proved to be the 1.6 TDCi 115PS which represents 45 per cent.

Coupled with the 1.6 105PS, 1.6 125PS and 1.6 150PS petrol model sales, 80 per cent of the C-MAX and Grand C-MAX's chosen by customers include engines that are home built at the Bridgend plant in Wales or at Dagenham, Essex.